Buuuurrrrp. Buuuurrrp.

I do very slow, rather pathetic burpees. At this rate, when I get to Day 75 and have to do 75 burpees, I'll have to start at the crack of dawn if I hope to finish by bedtime.

Of course, I did just do them in a skirt which makes it a bit tricker.

Endless Rain and Dreariness

As you all know, I have a certain fascination with The Plague/The Great Mortality/The Pestilence/Call-it-What-You-Will, and this seemingly endless run of bad weather (four days?) reminds me of the reports of bad weather surrounding the first outbreak of the plague in England in 1348.

For centuries, England had enjoyed quite mild weather. The climate was warm and bright enough to allow for vineyards and the country was able to support a wide variety of crops. Living was relatively easy and the population grew. Then the temperatures started to drop--an average of only a degree or so but enough to shorten the growing season and dramatically alter the success and bounty of the crops. 1346 and 1347 proved to be particularly cold and wet but nothing compared to 1348.

In the summer of 1348 it started to rain on Midsummers Day, approximately June 24th, and then it proceeded to rain everyday until Christmas. Interestingly, the first case of the plague in England was reported on June 25th--which, in such a superstitious time must have caused a great deal of speculation regarding its significance; however, I don't recall ever reading anything about that specifically. It was a pretty grim year for poor old England.

I am not suggesting that four days of Minnesota grey skies compares to six months of rain, disease, famine and misery, but I am mighty tired of the chilly dreariness.

Burp...

Today is Day One of the burpee challenge at work. I did my one burpee, although is wasn't very graceful.

This is NOT what I looked like....merely what I am aspiring to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Dq_NCzj8M

I am beginning to regret my role as Russell Protector

That stupid bunny seems to have a death wish. Schnuffy only spends 30 minutes outside a day--wouldn't you think Russell could go hide someplace during that time? Nooooo....Russell likes to frolic right in the middle of the yard. Russell, like Hazel, is going to be pushing daisies if he doesn't wise up soon.

Speaking of daisies...I have a veritable forest of daisies in the backyard and they are lovely!

Russell-The-Rabbit is Alive!

I hadn't seen Russell for days and I was afraid that Schnuffy or some other form of evil had found him but he was out last night hopping around and eating my flowers. Schnuffy did try to attack him but I was able to intervene, and Schnuffy was once again incarcerated in the laundry room.

Mighty Marathoners

Yesterday, Meredith and Margaret ran the Minneapolis marathon in under 5 hours--congratulations!

My contribution to this was that I was at their house at 5:50am to give them a ride to the starting line downtown. While they spent the next 5 hours running around Minneapolis, I went to the bakery, the grocery store, the coffee shop, had breakfast in the garden, went to Target, went to Greg's new place to hang curtains, came home and cut back my massive lilac bush since the blossoms are gone now, took a little nap in the yard, took a shower, buried Hazel, and enjoyed a nice visit from Kiwi.

Greg's place is looking really nice! We have to hem a couple of the drape panels and steam out the wrinkles, and hang a few things on the walls but it's taking shape and looking pretty impressive.

Mr. Barker's been in Alaska since Wednesday and it is awfully quiet with him away. He returns on Friday and I can hardly wait!

The Face of Evil

How can one tiny little cat be so demented?